Recuperator



A. SCHACK Dec. 4, 1934.

REGUPERATOR Filed Sept. 50, 1932 Inventor Ade/Lack y W- 2 M J] tborney.

Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES RECUPERATOB Alfred Schaclr, Dusseldorf-Oberkassel, Germany,

assignor to Rekuperator, Gesellschaft mit besehrankter Haftung, Dusseldorf, Germany Application September 30, 1932, Serial No. 635,551 In Germany October 15, 1931 Claims.

When a tubular metal recuperator or heat exchanger is arranged with the tubes vertically disposed and with the upper casing capable of movement the tubes are supported on the lower 5 casing and carry at the lower end not only their own weight but also the weight of the upper casing and the lengths of piping attached thereto. When high temperatures are employed, a deformation in shape of the tubes may result from the use of thin long tubes of the kind essential in large output recuperators. A similar disadvantage is involved in the use of vertical recuperators or heat exchangers which are supported from above and depend downwardly. In these heat exchangers the lower air casing or header is suspended from the tubes. The tubes, particularly if their hottest part is at the top, expand under the weight of the header and their own weight.

To avoid these disadvantages, according to the invention heat exchangers with metal tubes secured at one end in astationary air casing or header and at-the other end in an axially movable air casing or header particularly when used for preheating combustion air, are so constructed that the axially movable header is provided with a counter force substantially balancing the dead weight of the tubes. I

In the application of the invention to heat exchangers or the type first referred to, the balancmg counter force is applied on the upper header,

. while in the second case the counter force is applied on the lower header.

An example of construction of a heat exchanger of the first type according to the invention is 85 illustrated, in longitudinal section, in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, while a similar example ot a heat exchanger of the second type is represented in Figure 2.

In Figure 1 the recuperator comprises the tubes 40 1, and their air casings or headers 2 and 3, which are connected together in spaced relation by the tubes hereinbefore referred to, and the surrounding brickwork setting 4. The air casing 2 is adapted to move axially through a gas-tight joint formed bya ring 'I mounted at the head of the brickwork setting 4 and a gland ring 8 secured in position by bolts or screws within the ring 7 and confining therein suitable packing. The counter force is applied in this construction as a coun- 5 terweight 5, as shown in the drawing. The counterweight operates through the lever 6 pivotally mounted upon a support 9 and connected to the upper air casing or header 2 in such manner that the weight of the latter together with the weight of the depending tubes 1 is partly or completely balanced. Thus the recuperator may be constructed in various ways, for example, by the use of long thin tubes.

It will be observed that the construction represented in Figure 2 is similar to that shown in Figure 1, the parts being, however, in reversed positions. In this construction the lever 6 is pivotally mounted upon the supporting frame 11 and by reason of its disposition serves to act in opposition to the weight of the tubes 1 and the air casing or header 2.

The invention is not confined to the construction illustrated. It consists generally in'the feature of allowing a counter force or counter weight to act upon the movable headers of recuperators with vertical tubes.

I claim:

1. A recuperator comprising metal tubes, terminalheaders one of which is immovable and the other of which is movable in the direction of the axis of the tubes, and balancing means applied to the movable header through which means a counter force, which practically balances the action of gravity or the dead weight of the axially movable header and tubes, is exerted.

2. A recuperator comprising metal tubes, a lower header of fixed position connected to said tubes at one end, an upper header mounted to be axially movable and connected to the tubes at the other end, and balancing means applied to the upper header through which means a counter force, which practically balances the action of gravity or the dead weight of the axially movable I,

header and the tubes together, is exerted.

3. A recuperator comprising metal tubes, an upper header of fixed position connected to the upper end of the tubes, a lower header suspended from the lower end of the tubes, and balancing means applied to the lower header through which a counter force, which practically balances the action of gravity or the dead weight of the axially movable header and the tubes together, is exerted.

4. A recuperator comprising metal tubes, :1 lower header of fixed position connected to said tubes, an upper header that is axially movable and is connected tothe upper end of the said tubes, a pivoted lever having a fulcrum of fixed position, which lever is applied to the said movable header, and a counter-weight supported by said lever practically to balance the dead weight of the axially movable header and the tubes.

5. A recuperator comprising metal tubes, an upper header of fixed position connected to said tubes, at lower header suspended from the said 'tubes,-a pivoted lever of fixed fulcrum applied to said lower header, and a counter-weight acting upon said lever practically to balance the dead weight of the axially movable header and the tubes by ,which it is suspended.

ALFRED sermon. 

